Max Verstappen insists Miami Grand Prix win 'not impossible' despite starting in ninth

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen said victory in Sunday's Miami Grand Prix is "not impossible" despite him starting ninth on the grid.

Red Bull's Verstappen, who leads the driver's championship after picking up two wins from the opening four races of the season, was unable to get his late fast lap after Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashed and qualifying was cut short with around 90 seconds left.

The Dutchman's teammate Sergio Perez, second in the standings just six points behind Verstappen, grabbed pole position after Saturday's qualifying.

Despite the setback, Verstappen, who won the maiden Miami race last year, was not giving up hope of a strong result.

"A podium, for sure, but I want to win, so this is not great. (Winning is) not impossible, but it's not going to be easy," he said.

While Leclerc's crash didn't help, Verstappen had already made life difficult for himself by not getting his full fast lap in earlier. He said he had only himself to blame for having to pull out of his earlier lap after a mistake.

"I was a little bit offline out of (turn) six into seven, I felt a bit of understeer, and I just couldn't get it back on the line," he said. "So I aborted my lap. It was definitely a mistake of mine trying to put it on the limit.

"Then of course, you need a bit of luck, hoping that there won't be a red flag. But of course, when you try to think like that, then it happens. So, it's a bit upsetting."

Sergio Perez, centre, starts the Miami Grand Prix on pole and will be joined at the front of the grid by Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, left. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz qualified third. AP

But Verstappen, winner of the last two Formula One seasons, was keeping a sense of perspective.

"I've been in this position